Council commits to improving the lives of cared for children and care leavers

Council pledge for cared for children

Councillors from all political parties have made a commitment to be 'good corporate' parents and improve the lives of cared for children and care leavers.

The commitment, made at a meeting of full council, will support more than 500 cared for children and approximately 250 care leavers across Cheshire East.

Being a good corporate parent means services working together to support and champion the needs of cared for children and care leavers, having high ambitions for their future, keeping them safe, happy and healthy and supporting them into adulthood. It also means celebrating their successes and supporting them when things don't go so well.

Five pledges were made at full council:

  • We will be a good corporate parent;
  • We will improve education, employment and training outcomes;
  • We will work to achieve permanence and keep children safe;
  • We will improve health and wellbeing outcomes; and
  • We will prepare young people for adulthood.

Councillor Jos Saunders, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for children and families, said: "We believe that corporate parenting is one of the most important responsibilities held by elected members, partner agencies and individual staff working with children and young people in the care of the local authority.

"Corporate parenting is about each one of us and the whole council, along with our partner agencies, all working together to improve the lives of the children and young people that we care for and for care leavers. We need to act in the best interest of these children and young people and to help them make the best use of the services that we and our partners provide.

"Today we have pledged our support for all Cheshire East cared for children and young people and care leavers, pledges that are based on what they have told us will make the most difference to their lives."

Photo: (From left) Councillors Jos Saunders and Rachel Bailey, young person who asked not to be named, Cllrs Sam Corcoran, Arthur Moran, Rod Fletcher, Lesley Smetham and acting chief executive of Cheshire East Council Kath O'Dwyer.

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Cheshire East Council
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